It might be because most games last the thick end of 100 minutes but stop counting at 90. So the last minute is unusually long...

I have never rated Bruce other than as a true old fashioned centre half and mouthy ignoramus.

Half is 12 bringing 5,000+ Leeds a certainty. Bolton is the last home game of the season so it might bring a big do or die crowd to Ewood PNE if having a good season Possibles: Villa (first club to visit Ewood with a large away following, depends on keeping a good start going) Forest (unlikely- don't remember them having that good a travelling support at Ewood.. and 7-0) Sheffield United (Wednesday evening game so highly unlikely) Sheffield Wednesday (depends on how good a season they are having) Birmingham City (very unlikely not so big club will bring above 2,000) West Brom (possible as the New Year's Day fixture) Bristol City (could bring 2,500+ if having a good run but unlikely) Middlesbrough (if challenging for promotion and the poor dears don't have the sniffles) Wigan (a Tuesday evening game- forget it!) Stoke City (first Saturday in April so could fill Darwen End if doing well), immediately followed by Derby County (first Tuesday in April so unlikely unless really challenging for automatic promotion) So I make that nine >5,000 visitors to Ewood games at the very best. More likely to be four or five.

Good news. Hopefully the first of others this week.

Chelsea likeliest to be the one to drop out of CL contention of the six clubs pressing at the top and Liverpool probably the biggest threat to City.

This is a tad premature isn't it?

He was six yards out and the keeper was flat on the ground. A chip at arm level beyond the defender on the line either goes in or gets a penalty and a red card. Having said that, Nutall's non-effort heading backwards was far worse.

No team is more solidly Championship level than Ipswich so it was a good performance by a starting XI of Rovers who were all a level lower last season. For all the gripes, we were easily as good as Ipswich so that portends comfortable survival this season which I think we should all be grateful for. If you want to single players out for gripes- Palmer and Nuttall really should be making convincing efforts to score when they find themselves in the positions they did in the last 15 minutes (or at any time in any game regardless of the score line). Those two non-efforts were when we put the two additional points in peril. The amount of transfer business to be done before close of window on Thursday by every club in the division could make it a whole new league come Saturday kick-off. Getting ahead of myself but had Armstrong and not Samuel being playing yesterday, Rovers would have been a dramatically more dangerous proposition.

Thought the ref had a decent game too. A step up in quality from last season.

I seem to have watched a different game! First of all what a delight to be watching Rovers live on a mega-screen again. Instant reactions: What a fabulous signing Gwion Edwards is for Ipswich- easily best player on the pitch. Harrison was one we did well to avoid though... The Championship holds no fears for Rovers unlike Rotherham who seem to have booked an express return to League 1 already. Apart from ten minutes early on the Rovers players were at least as fit, skilful, QUICK and determined as Ipswich and probably better organised. Two stupidly soft goals conceded- Nyambe stood off inviting the cross (he did the same again in the 43rd minute) and left back was sleeping giving Edwards the free header. For the equaliser, Raya takes too big a step to his left anticipating a deflection goalwards leaving himself floundering for the ball going all the way across and in off the post. Palmer was anonymous except for failing to convert his chance from the six yard line. And what on earth was Nutall doing heading it back in the 87th minute, setting up a dangerous Ipswich chance when a lobbed header anywhere on goal made it 3-1? Dack had his moments but that was all. Well as the rest of them played we are not good enough to shield Dack's lack of pace and play to his strengths. Overall, encouraging, very encouraging. Two silly points dropped but looking forwards to an entertaining season.

Ipswich have all four summer signings starting and Waghorn out of the starting line-up.

Remarkably strong bench. Great to show loyalty to last season's squad but I cannot help remember that abject 0-1 surrender to Hull City in the FA Cup when we last played Championship opposition. Here's hoping Bennet's goal against Everton has a positive effect on him.

Good luck to Accy Stanley kicking off at home to Gillingham!

Watching it live in my local bar by the look of things.

So are we signing Armstrong, Gallagher, neither or both?

The two Maltese clubs I have most affinity with (Valletta and Balzan) both exited the Euro[a League last night after having given themselves a decent chance of going through based on first leg performances. Such a shame they couldn't have drawn Scottish opponents.

The trams finished in Blackburn in 1949 but the tracks were still in Kidder Street until Jack built the new Blackburn End- they survived construction of the cantilever roof in 1961. For many years, Blackburn, Darwen and Accrington football specials parked the length of Kidder St awaiting full time on match days. The stop in Blackburn was along the road where the Blackburn-Darwen expresses ran from.

Apart from Forest and Liverpool perhaps, name me a set of fans who are happy with this transfer window at present. Seen Moanchester United?

Where will Rovers finish this season? : 16th Player of the Year : Lenihan Young Player of the Year: Palmer Top Goalscorer: Graham Championship Promoted : Forest, Boro, Leeds Championship Relegated : Rotherham, Birmingham, Bolton Dark Horse : Preston Hey....Stranger things have happened : Rovers in the play-offs Miscellaneous : Dack sold in the January window

Conway for Bennett's twin on the subs bench and I'd go with Ewood Ace's line-up.

10,000 season ticket sales is not an underwhelming number.

So does this mean midweek games are not on ifollow?

OK this is the kiss of death. We lost every match I did a preview for last season. I have never seen us win at Portman Road- I won't be going so be thankful for small mercies. I am not going to pick Mowbray's staring 11 or bench of18 for him but it looks like it will be pretty identical to last season, give a Palmer, take an Armstrong. Our last few trips to Portman Road have been pretty bleak (Ipswich first) 16/7 3-2 15/6 2-0 14/5 3-2 13/4 2-0 12/3 1-1 11/2 3-1 01/2 1-1 So not a happy hunting ground. Still, if I were Ipswich, I wouldn't be wanting to open the campaign against a team promoted as impressively as Rovers were. Betting odds are marginally making an Ipswich win favourites which I think is fair but all three outcomes are pretty evenly backed. Ipswich start their 17th Championship on the trot having parted company with 12 players (only Ben Knight to Man City for £700K for any cash) and brought only 5 in including Harrison from Bristol Rovers and Donacien from Accy Stanley. Which rather suggests they might struggle this season so this is a fixture we really should not be losing. A good opening test for Rovers and here's hoping the momentum from last season carries us on to a win.

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/16389050.they-are-in-the-mix-rovers-boss-on-chapman-and-armstrong/?ref=ar Armstrong and Chapman not top targets but in the mix. Good negotiating tactics!

Just had a look at other clubs' sites and this one is orderly and civilised in comparison.. Mayhem out there. The early window closure is causing a collective seizure on selling, buying and loaning. Cool nerves needed and next week will be bonkers.